Every morning, I search "Porsche" on Craigslist, mainly to see if any wheels or other parts pop up for sale. Today, twenty five minutes after it was posted, I found an ad for an '83 911 SC Targa. I made quick phone call, the seller sent some more photos and I drove 85 miles to take a look.
The car was pretty filthy and has a broken throttle cable, but it appears to be complete, unmodified and started right up. The paint is a bit rough, but mostly original. After a bit of negotiation, peppered with the statement "the banks are closed until Monday and I have cash in my pocket", we agreed on a price and I went off to rent a trailer (mine was snowed in). An hour later, I was back and he helped me load the car. The whole time, his cell phone was ringing and he kept saying, "Sorry, it's sold".
It was already dark when I got home, so here are the photos from the ad.
I don't have a plan for it yet, but I don't really expect to own it for very long either. I was looking for a project, but didn't expect anything like this to come along. It was just too good to pass up.
awesome pickup....well, assuming that the mystery price paid was awesomely low, which seems to be the case. 
Nice buy! Good luck with it.
if you got it for challenge money (longshot, I know), please enter!
oldtin
SuperDork
2/25/12 9:28 p.m.
Nice find! Prices seem to be running up on 911s. I bought mine cheap, fixed a few things and sold it on for a couple grand more three years later. Yay free porsches.
Luke
SuperDork
2/26/12 7:13 a.m.
Nice.
You say it's dirty/rough, but it still looks nicer than the piece-of-E36 M3 cars that I buy 
...care to share how much you paid?
I am jealous.. I want another 911
If you need any parts to get it fighting fit, just let me know!
Also, let me know if you want to flip it!
In reply to Woody:
I also search Porsche everyday, I usually look at 944/924/928 though. I don't know much about 911 and their pricing seems so all over the board that I wouldn't know a good deal if I saw it. I'm jealous of yours though; many don't like targas but it looks like the best of both worlds to me. Congrats!
chandlerGTi wrote:
In reply to Woody:
many don't like targas but it looks like the best of both worlds to me.
Funny, that. The targa is more the worst of both worlds. It's just as flexy as a cabrio, and not as open. I should think a sunroof coupe would be "the best of both worlds".
Luke wrote:
Nice.
You say it's dirty/rough, but it still looks nicer than the piece-of-E36 M3 cars that I buy
...care to share how much you paid?
Until I decide what I'm going to do with it, that information remains classified. Let's just call it "affordable" for a complete, running 911.
Now that the sun is up (of course, I've been awake since 4 am) I'll snap some more photos and get to work on it.
Maroon92 wrote:
chandlerGTi wrote:
In reply to Woody:
many don't like targas but it looks like the best of both worlds to me.
Funny, that. The targa is more the worst of both worlds. It's just as flexy as a cabrio, and not as open.
Have you actually got first hand experience of one? Just wondering...
In reply to Woody:
Looks like a good find. What's the condition of the body and the roof like?
SC's are fun cars. I've purchased them running/driving as low as 3500.
Plenty of deals out there if you keep your eyes open.
Taiden
SuperDork
2/26/12 9:54 a.m.
Wanna gloat about how little you paid for it?
Nice, maybe one day I will be in the position to pick up an 911 project. Maybe.
